Get the appFirefighters from Narara Rural Fire Service were called to a truck fire on Mangrove Road, Somersby, on Saturday night, October 24. On arrival, crews found a single-cab truck fully involved in flames.
Victorian Emergency Services Minister Paul Edbrooke says he found an engraved bullet on the bonnet of his family car after a Melbourne engagement on Saturday. The bullet bore his firefighter ID number and the word RAT. Edbrooke alleges it was planted by aggrieved union members, a claim the United Firefighter's Union condemned. Victoria Police are investigating the incident, which was reported on Sunday. Union secretary Peter Marshall said the threat did not speak for firefighters and that the union would co-operate fully with police.
Victoria's emergency services minister, Paul Edbrooke, says he believes he is being followed after finding a bullet on his car bonnet following a community event in his Frankston electorate. The bullet was engraved with the word "RAT" and his former firefighter identification number, which he says few people would know. Edbrooke said the discovery was frightening, particularly because his children, who are young adults, also use the vehicle. He said the only people sending him aggressive threats and abuse online were members of the United Firefighters Union, which is in a dispute with Fire Rescue Victoria.
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Get the appPolice are investigating after Victorian emergency services minister Paul Edbrooke found a bullet on his car on Saturday. The bullet was inscribed with the word RAT and his old firefighter number. Mr Edbrooke called it a death threat and said he had reported it to police. The United Firefighters Union condemned the threat and asked police to find the person responsible. Union secretary Peter Marshall later questioned whether the bullet had been placed on the car at all. Victoria Police said its Security Investigation Unit is investigating.
Perth firefighters are preparing for their annual calendar launch at The Court Hotel on November 20. The calendar, now in its 20th year, raises money for the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation and has reached a total of $2.5 million over two decades to support children with burn injuries. Calendars will be handed out on the night and go on sale the following day. Firefighter Adam Manera said the cause was personal, as his son had heart surgery at six months old.
A free family event at the Coffs Harbour Jetty foreshore on Friday, 23 October, will feature emergency service displays, food trucks, live music, a firefighters' torchlight parade and a fireworks display over the harbour. The Community Engagement Evening runs from 5pm to 9pm and precedes the 2026 NSW Firefighter State Championships. Around 200 competitors from NSW and Victoria will compete at Maclean Street Sporting Fields on Saturday and Sunday, with entry free for spectators. Organisers say the championships are the first held in Coffs Harbour since 2003.
Construction has officially begun on a $22.7 million fire station in Yanchep, Western Australia. Work started at 128 Yanchep Beach Road on October 22, and the station is expected to be ready by early 2029. It will be staffed by 36 full-time firefighters. Emergency Services Minister Reece Whitby said the facility will improve emergency response across the northern corridor and support local volunteer brigades. Butler MLA Lorna Clarke said career firefighters were important for the area, where summers bring hotter weather and bushfires.
Fire Rescue Victoria crews were called to a building fire in Anderson Street, Sunshine, shortly before midday on 17 October. Firefighters found a single-storey brick home well alight and tackled the blaze with hoselines. They searched the home for occupants but found no one inside, as it appeared to be unoccupied. The fire was under control at 12:06pm, 11 minutes after crews arrived. Fire Rescue Victoria will hand the scene to Victoria Police because the circumstances are suspicious.
Fire Rescue Victoria crews attended a house fire on the Old Calder Highway in Keilor early this morning. They found a double storey brick home well alight, with the blaze starting in the front entrance before spreading to the top floor. Firefighters knocked the fire down quickly and searched the home, finding no one inside. The fire was under control by 2.13am. The blaze has been deemed suspicious and will be handed to Victoria Police for investigation.
A teenage boy was rescued from Brisbane's stormwater drains after becoming trapped in the underground network near Kangaroo Point. Five firefighting crews located the boy, who was with his brother, about 20 metres from the entrance. The operation, which took around half an hour, involved using an inflatable rescue boat. The teenager was unharmed and did not require hospital treatment. Authorities cautioned against exploring such drains, especially after rainfall, due to their extensive and complex layout.
A unit in Kingaroy was badly damaged by fire on Saturday afternoon. Emergency services were called to a unit complex in Arthur Street at 2:05pm, finding smoke pouring from a window. The fire is believed to have started in a bedroom and was contained by 2:15pm. Four fire crews, police, paramedics and an Ergon Energy crew attended. No one was home at the time and no one was injured.
Dozens of firefighters are battling an intense fire at a feed mill in Cardiff, near Newcastle, in New South Wales. Crews were called to the blaze on Nelson Rd just after 10am, and up to 50 firefighters are working with engineers on site. Fire and Rescue NSW zone commander James Manuao said four people on site were moved to safety. The fire started in a dust control vent and spread to the exhaust ducts.
A Victorian audit has found that more than $1 billion in extra investment is needed to upgrade the state's ageing fire trucks. The auditor-general said $1.5 billion was needed between 2024-25 and 2033-34, but only $390.4 million has been allocated so far. Almost 60 per cent of Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria trucks are more than 15 years old. The audit also found widespread cracking in trucks run by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, which suspended more than half its fleet.
The Australian Government has dropped plans to split disaster recovery funding 50-50 with states and territories. The current arrangements remain, with the Commonwealth continuing to contribute up to 75 per cent of eligible recovery and reconstruction costs. The mayor said the decision is vital for councils with small revenue bases. Work has begun on the Goondiwindi Levee Restoration Works, jointly funded through the arrangements. The column also covered a charity dinner that raised funds for Goondiwindi Hospital and a Firefighters Remembrance Day service in Toowoomba.
Perth Airport’s Aviation Rescue and Firefighting team will attempt a 24-hour treadmill relay at the Telethon Family Festival. Around 20 firefighters will walk continuously while wearing heavy uniforms and breathing apparatus. The event will take place at RAC Arena’s Challenge Yourself Hub on October 17 and 18, allowing the public to witness the crew’s endurance test. The team aims to raise funds for Telethon, inspired by the resilience of sick children they support.
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Get the appNew Zealand’s Wāhine Toa women’s firefighter calendar has released teasers for its 2027 edition, which will go on sale on 28 October. The calendar, featuring 13 female firefighters, aims to raise $300,000 for Breast Cancer Cure. The 2026 edition sold out internationally in 26 hours, raising over $170,000. The calendar was created to celebrate strength and femininity while supporting breast cancer research.